Updated statement ahead of planned youth climate protest in Bristol

Bristol
City Council and the Avon and Somerset Police are working together to manage
public safety and minimise disruption to the city during the Youth Strike 4
Climate protest which will be attended by climate activist Greta Thunberg on
Friday 28 February.

From
the information we know about the event, we know there will be major disruption
to the city on Friday. We have seen a number of protests over the last year
however this one will be significantly larger so we want to ensure that anyone
planning to attend is prepared and able to make their own safety and
safeguarding arrangements. Parents are responsible for their children. The
council and police are not responsible for unsupervised children.

Bristol
City Council and the Avon and Somerset Police are unable to accurately predict
how large this event will be however we have confirmation of people travelling
from across the UK to attend.

The
event has grown so large that the usual controls, stewarding and safety
measures that are routinely put in place by the teenage Youth Strike 4 Climate
organisers may not be adequate, especially for primary school children and
people with disabilities.

We
would therefore encourage those attending, or who are responsible for children
who wish to attend, to consider their arrangements carefully and make their own
informed decisions.

The council will be closing some roads to minimise risk of harm to road users, pedestrians and protestors. The organisers have been unable to clarify full details of timings and routes, so we cannot at present give final details of road closures. Please look out for further communications.

In
terms of big crowds, there is the potential for trips, slips, falls and
crushing. People can easily be separated from their friends and
family. Mobile phone signals can be intermittent due to saturation on the
communications masts. It is also unlikely people will be able to leave the area
quickly, and access to toilets and water will be very limited. There will
also be delays to public transport.

Please
do not underestimate the scale of this protest.

We’re
working to ensure Bristol is open as usual, but would urge people to allow
extra time for travel and consider whether their journey is necessary.